Some things that feel new are not. Platform businesses that match-make between groups became all the rage over the last decade or so — but have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some things are age-old and expected to be around forever — failed New Year’s resolutions and financial stress seem to be ubiquitous features of any year. And some things are old but are getting a new lease on life in the digital age, like doctors making house calls. But as we are getting ready to say out with the old and in with the new, it bears remembering things aren’t always what they appear, and “old” or “new” is often a matter of perspective.
Data:
558: The number of years since Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar opened.
85 percent: Share of American workers who report being under financial stress.
80 percent: Share of people who have made New Year’s resolutions and given up on them within six weeks of New Year’s Day.
58 percent: Share of consumers who have participated in contextual commerce.
14: The number of patients doctors see per day in the Heal house calls platform.